Automatically-played musical instrument.



No. 779,080. I PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905. E. HOPKINSON.

AUTOMATICALLY PLAYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.19, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR I" /)/"v; I I l I PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

E. HOPKINSON.

AUTOMATICALLY PLAYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED T11R19, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\\\YIIIII/IIIII mm R O T N E V N UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

ERNEST HOPKINSON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATICALLY-PLAYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,080, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed February 19, 1902'. Serial No. 94,789.

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST HornINsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at No.

South Walnut street, in the city of East Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to automatically-played musical instruments.

In an automatically-played piano it is very desirable to provide means for accenting or emphasizing the melody-note, and also quite often it is desirable to havea note in the harmony dominantly sounded. In wind instruments, such as pipe or reed organs, it is desirable that the melody and sometimes a dominating note in a chord be emphasized, and as the same air-supply is common to all the reeds or pipes of a given set this can only be done by effecting the speech of a reed or pipe in a different set from those speaking in the general harmony. As is well known, in organs played by hand this is accomplished by providing two or more manuals, the melody or part to be emphasized being played on one manual and the accompaniment or general harmony on another.

The object of my invention is to provide means, in an automatically-played wind instrument, whereby effects may be produced similar to those obtained on an instrument having a plurality of manuals, and in the case of an automatically-played piano to provide means for accenting or giving an increased force to the striking devices of the notes which it is desired to have dominate the general har- -mony or accompaniment.

which valve is controlled by giving the noteopening in the paper record a characteristic form whereby the valve is caused to open one and close the other of the branch openings.

In the drawings I have shown several forms of devices by which the objects of my invention are obtained; but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular constructions illustrated, as the invention is susceptible of almost innumerable variations. Also as the invention does not relate to the primary pneumatics or to the reed (or pipe) opening devices, or in the case of a piano the striking devices, all of which are well known to persons skilled in the art, I have not illustrated them.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view in vertical section of a tracker-board opening provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of a portion of a tracker-board. Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion of the usual paper music-record having openings adapted to coact with my devices. Fig. 4: is aview, on an enlarged scale, looking directly into the tracker-board opening. Fig. 5 is a view showing the device whereby the tracker-board is rendered available for use with the ordinary music-records heretofore made. Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 1, but showing modified forms. Fig. 8 is partially a front view of Figs. 6 and 7 and partially a sectional view along line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Like numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, the tracker-board is designated by the numeral 1. It is provided with the opening 2, which a short distance back of the front edge is provided with two branches 3 and I. Assuming the instrument to be a wind instrument, the passage 3 would lead to a main set of reeds orpipes, while the passage at would lead to a solo or secondary set. In the case of a piano the passage 3 would lead to the usual striking devices and the passsge 4: to an auxiliary set of striking devices.

5 designates a valve device, which here consists simply of a flap of suitable material hinged at 6. This flap should be of such size as to just clear the sides of the opening-2 and face of the paper music-record when the same is passing over the tracker-board opening. The lower face of the tracker-board opening is cut away, so as to provide a passage 7, leading from atmosphere to the under side of the flap-valve 5, and I have shown this passage as located at one side.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the music-record 8 is provided with two sets of note-openings, one set, 9, operating the main set of reeds or pipes and the set 10 being designed to operate the solo or secondary set in the case of a wind instrument and to augment the striking devices or operate an independent set of modified force in the case of a piano. The noteopenings 9, which correspond to or areintended to actuate the accompaniment or general harmony, are each provided with an advance or leading portion 11, preferably in the form of a triangular cut-out, this advance portion admitting atmospheric pressure to the upper surface of the valve 5 before or simultaneously with the admission of atmospheric pressure to the under surface when the passage 7 is uncovered. Of course it is immaterial which of the tracker-board branches leads to the main set of note-sounding devices so long as the other set leads to an independent set of note-sounding devices and the openings in the music-record correspond.

The operation of my invention will be plain. Assuming the paper music-record to be in its usual position and passing across the tracker board openings, the operation of the bellows of the instrument will create 'a partial vacuum in the passages 3 and 4: and the tracker-board opening 2. The valve 5 will rest of its own weight, closing the secondary opening 41. Now if a solo or secondary note record approaches its first effect will be to open the passage 7 and admit air therethrough to the under side of the valve 5, and there being a partial vacuum on the upper side of this valve it will fly up and close the opening 3, the admitted air passing then to the primary pneumatics of the solo or secondary reed, pipe, or striking devices through the passage 4:, the air thus admitted also serving to maintain the valve 5 seated, closing the opening 8. When the note-opening has passed, the vacuum in the passage 4: will be reestablished and the valve 5 will fall to normal position, closing the passage 4. If an accompaniment or general-harmony note-opening approaches, its leading portion 11 will admit air to the upper surface of the valve 5 either in advance of or simultaneously with the admission of air to the under side, so that the partial vacuum on its upper surface is destroyed and the valve will remain stationary, leaving a clear passage along the opening 2 through the passage 3 to the main or general-harmony reed, pipe, or striking devices.

Of course it will be apparent that with the devices I have described if it were attempted to use the ordinary music-records now in use the solo or secondary notes only would speak. In order-to permit of the use of the ordinary music-records, I provide a removable faceplate 12, suitably journaled in standards 13, this face-plate having the usual tracker-board openings and covering the passages 7 when in position in front of the tracker-board. By this means it is only necessary to turn the face-plate into position in front of the trackerboard to make use of the ordinary music-records now in use and render inert the solo devices. Any means may be provided for securing the face-plate in position, an opening 14 engaging with a stud 15 being provided for this purpose. When a record provided with the different sets of note-openings contemplated by my invention is to be used, the face-plate is turned back under the trackerboard out of the way and the music-rec0rd drawn across the tracker-board openings in the usual manner.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a variation or modified form of my invention in which there is a valve-chamber 16 and in which the valve 17 is provided with a tailpiece 18, which by gravity maintains the valve normally closing one of the openings and is operated to uncover said opening and close the other by air admitted through the port 19.

I desire it to be understood that when I speak of a valve Imean any device whereby the direction of the air-current is controlled to operate different note-sounding devices, and when Ispeak of a solo or inelody I do not mean to limit myself to the speech of a single note or series of single notes, as it is perfectly clear that the device would operate to emphasize an entire harmony while playing in secondary emphasis another harmony in the nature of an accompaniment. It is also perfectly plain that where the character of a piece changes suddenly from forte to piano or otherwise the change may be effected simply by changing the character of the note-records.

\Vhat is claimed as new is 1. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having an opening, branches from said opening leading to different sets of note-sounding devices, and means for directing the air-current through one or the other of said branches.

2. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having an opening, branches leading therefrom to two sets of note-sounding devices, a valve, and means for varying the air-pressure upon one or the other side of said valve in advance of the passage of a note-sounding aircurrent through either branch, whereby the air-current is directed through one or the other of said branches.

3. In an autoinatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having an opening having two branches leading therefrom to different sets of note-sounding devices, a valve common to said branches, and a passage leading from atmosphere to the under side of said Valve.

4. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having an opening having two branches leading therefrom, a valve hinged in said opening and normally closing one of said branches, and a passage leading from atmosphere to one side of said valve.

5. In an. automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having an opening, branches extending therefrom to different sets of note-sounding devices, a valve, a tailpiece to said valve holding the valve in position to normally close one of said branches, and means for admitting air-pressure to one side of the tailpiece to effect the movement of the valve.

6. In an automatically-played musical instrument a tracker board provided with branched openings a valve located in said openings, a music-record having one or more noteopenings provided with an initial portion admitting air to one side of the valve device in advance of the air admission to the other side.

7. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having an opening, a valve located therein, a passage leading to one side of said valve and removable means for closing said passage.

8. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having a line of perforations each having branches, and meansfor enabling the music sheet to predetermine through which of the branches of each opening the air-current shall pass to sound the note.

9. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having an opening for each note, each opening having two branches, a. valve controlling both branch openings, and means for enabling the musicsheet to predetermine the position of the valve.

10. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having a branched opening for each note and a valve controlling the branches; said tracker-board being also provided With an opening in advance of each note-opening for operating said valve before air passes into the note-opening to sound the note.

11. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having abranched opening for each note, and a valve controlling the branches; said valve normally closing one of the branches, and said tracker-board being also provided With an opening in advance of each note-opening for moving the valve to a position to close the other branch.

12. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having a branched opening for each note, one of said branches for controlling the main note-sounding devices, and the other of said branches for controlling auxiliary note-sounding devices; and a valve normally closing each of the branches controlling the auxiliary note-sounding devices; said tracker-board being also provided with an opening in advance of each note-opening, for moving the valve to open the auxiliary branch and close the main branch.

13. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having a series of main openings, each of said openings having a branch, and means, including an auxiliary current-controlling opening to .the tracker-board in advance of the main opening, for causing the note-sounding air-current to be directed through the branch.

14:. In an automatically-played musical in strument, a tracker-board having a series of note-sounding openings each having branches, and means for enabling the music-sheet to predetermine through which branch the air-current shall pass to sound the note.

15. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having for each of a series of notes an opening having ramifications, and a valve which may be held in position to close either ramification by the pressure of a note-sounding current of air in the other ramification.

16. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board having for each of a series of notes an opening having ramifications, a valve which may be held in position to close either ramification by the pressure of a note-sounding current of air in the other ramification, and means for enabling a musicsheet to predetermine which ramification shall receive the air-current.

17. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board provided with a series of noteopenings each having ramificz tions, and an auxiliary current-controlling opening for each note-opening and directly in advance thereof.

18. In an automatically-played musical instrument, a tracker-board provided with aseries of note-openings and materially smaller auxiliary current-controlling advance openings one for each note-opening and at one side thereof.

19. In an automatically-played musical instrument, the combination with a trackerboard having a plurality of openings for each note, of a removable face-plate having a single opening for each note.

20. In an automatically-played musical instrument, the combination with a trackerboard having a series of note-openings and an auxiliary opening for each note-opening and in advance thereof, of a removable face-plate covering said auxiliary openings but having openings to communicate with said note-openings.

21. In an automatically-played musical instrurnent, the combination With a trackerings but having'openings in register With said board having a branched opening for each note-openings. 10 note and a valve controlling the branches, said In Witness whereof l have hereunto set my trackerboard being also provided with an hand this 18th day of February, 1902.

5 opening in advance of each note-opening for ERNEST HOPKINSON.

operating-said valve before air passes into the 'itnesses: note-opening to sound the note, of a remov- JoHN E. FRYER,

able face-plate covering said advance open- H. RICHARD \Vonsn. 

